Tucson International Airport Airfield Safety Enhancement (ASE)

The Airfield Safety Enhancement (ASE) Program is the most critical safety project in the history of the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). The multi-year $400+ million project (in 2023 dollars) will transform the airfield layout at Tucson International Airport (TUS) to meet the latest safety standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Please note the current airfield is deemed safe by the FAA; however, standards have changed, and the TAA has prioritized this project and multi-phased approach to make TUS even safer.

Before ever breaking ground, ASE required more than 10 years of planning and design. The estimated 6-8 years of construction includes the demolition, relocation, and replacement of a parallel general aviation runway with a new parallel runway capable of handling commercial, military, and general aviation users, and modernized airfield geometry. More importantly, ASE is designed to enhance airfield safety, with a primary focus to eliminate confusion and runway incursions.

ASE Program Is Four Projects

The footprint for ASE is massive. When planners at the TAA identified that additional land would be necessary in a specific area of the airfield, a working group was formed with multiple stakeholders (FAA, Arizona Air National Guard 162^nd Wing, City of Tucson, Pima County, Raytheon, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). The Metropolitan Pima Alliance (MPA) recognized this collaborative effort, led by TAA, to swap various parcels of land around the TUS campus to make ASE possible at their annual awards ceremony. The land swap allows for continued expansion and investment in Southern Arizona for all participating parties. The TAA shared the 2022 MPA Common Ground Award with the FAA, Arizona Air National Guard 162^nd Wing, City of Tucson, Pima County, Raytheon, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In December 2022, the project achieved substantial completion of the new end-around taxiway, located at the west end of the airfield, that will ensure safe aircraft movement for airfield users. The project entailed construction of new Taxiways F, G, and D3 and included an investment from the Arizona Air National Guard to make improvements to its Arm/De-Arm Pad, Gate B Entrance, and the installation of an aircraft barrier arresting kit (BAK) system on Runway 4/22.

January 2023 ushered in the next phase of ASE, which is Taxiway C. Dirt work on this new outboard taxiway for airfield stakeholders on the southside of the TUS campus is currently visible from the terminal. While some aspects of ASE have been pushed back due to the lack of supply of materials, we are pleased to report this phase is on budget and on schedule for completion in early 2024.

Both Taxiway C and the end-around taxiway are considered enabling projects. Each one was a prerequisite for the parallel runway demolition and replacement. The goal is always to maintain a safe, operational airfield and these current projects do exactly that. If the necessary federal grants are issued for work on Runway 12R/30L, work may begin in the summer of 2025.

Timelines and progress are dependent on the availability of grant funding. As a unique nonprofit created and developed by community business leaders and established by Arizona state charter in 1948, the TAA accepts zero local tax dollars. Large-scale development like ASE relies heavily on grants from the FAA and the revenue earned by the TAA, through its business enterprise, to pay for projects, programs, and initiatives.

While the completion of the ASE Program is contingent on numerous external factors, there is no denying the pride TAA feels about the progress made up to this point. As a regional catalyst that generates more than $8.3 billion in economic activity annually, we will continue to work nonstop for safety and for ASE to benefit our airfield users, our airline partners, and our Southern Arizona community. When our airport thrives, our community thrives!